What's your favourite cartridge for 78s?

I

Inamelotone

Active Member
Hey all
Just thought I'd quizz fellow 78 lovers on what type of needle they used to play their beloved shellac... I have been using Shures for years, first a M75 with a 78 needle, currently a M978, which was a worthy improvement and a happy NOS find from a retiring dealer who was closing shop.

Anyway, the M978 is nearing the end of the road I feel and, although it is possible to get replacement 'generic' styli (i.e. not shure) I am thinking of exploring new options so would be keen to hear your views. How about a Grado or maybe an Audio Technica?

Thanks for your time
Inamelotone
 
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I have some 78 to duplicate and i search for an use cartridge and or stylus shure for, anybody know where i can find one.

Thanks
Dan
 
I have several Stanton 500 cartridges that I use for 78's. Although it's a stereo cartridge, you can mix to mono by use of the mono switch on the receiver, or in my case, I use an Esoteric Sound Re-equalizer to correct playback curves and mix to mono.

Some 78's can have a very noisy inner or outer groove wall. The other wall can be much quieter. By using a stereo cartridge, you can pick which channel is quieter. If both channels are about equal, using the mono switch will help cut down surface noise.

Another advantage of the Stanton 500 cartridge is the wide availability of 78 styli. In addition to the standard D5127 2.7 mil conical, there are excellent styli produce by other companies in various sizes and shapes, particularily elliptical and truncated elliptical shapes from 2.0 to 4.0 mil and even larger. The best size and shape varies by age and condition of the particular record.
 
it's usually employed (was. oops) in jukeboxes, but my VOM changer came mounted with, and really loved, a Sonotone 8TA.
 
I use an AT 450 with a 78 RPM stylus from Garage-a-records. It sounds pretty good thru my Marantz even though I don't have the specific 78 RPM EQ preamp.
 
Designdweeb said:
How do you tell the cartridge is "nearing the end of the road?"
Click to expand...

There are really only five reasons to replace a magnetic cartridge:

1. A coil opens.
2. The cartridge is physically worn where it will not hold the stylus securely.
3. Replacement stylus is not available.
4. Owner wishes to upgrade for higher performance.
5. Corrosion or physical damage to contact pins, etc.

I have cartridges that are over thirty-five years old and still perform well. There are no internal moving parts to wear.
 
Stanton 500

2.0 mil diamond elliptical
2.5 mil diamond elliptical
3.0 mil diamond elliptical
3.5 mil diamond elliptical
4.0 mil diamond elliptical
8.0 mil sapphire conical
 
For years I used a Pickering NP/AC, which has since been rebranded as the Stanton 400 V3. The NP/AC has been in production since at least the ‘70s, and possibly earlier, and is known as the “loudest cartridge on earth.”

When the Pickering D5127 2.7 mm stylus that had been in use since around 1998 finally started to die, I looked for a replacement and found out that they cost around $60. Being a cheapskate, I instead bought a $12 Pfansteil copycat stylus and was underwhelmed with the sound of it. (I shoulda known better!)

I then started considering the Shure M78S, which has gotten good reviews and costs around $35.

Faced with the choice of a $60 replacement stylus for my NP/AC or a new Shure cart for $35, based on the positive reviews for the Shure, I ordered one last week. I expect to have it in a day or two and will post my impressions.
 
Thank you guys...

Designdweed I agree it's not easy to tell when a cartridge (or in my case just the stylus) is past its best, but generally I can guess-timate the number of hours as I have had from new, and that must be well over 1500 hours (and that's a conservative guess!). I think it also quite easy to judge by ear, the cartridge sounds a little 'woolier' as it wears these days, less crisp than when it was new.

But I suppose it will still be good for a few hundred hours more.

I might give the Stanton a go, but I do like the idea of the 'loudest cartridge in the world', just for entertainment value!

Beatcomber let me know what you make of your knew Shure!

And by the way if you have lots of 78s I think it is well worth trying to get the eq curve right. I got a old Citation pre last year and heard 78s properly eq'd for the 1st time and it was a revelation!!

'til next time,

Inamelotone
 
I have tried Grado and Shure

I liked the Grado o.k. It was fine, but the suspension was not robust enough on the 12" discs which tend to be slightly warped. So I got some bottoming out and loss of fidelity.

Since then, my staples have been the Shure M44-7 Cartridge with various Expert Stylus Custom Stylii. These are dj cartridges -- like the Stanton 500. This cartridge has v. high output which comes in handy with acoustic recordings.

I also have a Shure SC35 DJ cart. with custom stylus. The output on this is a little lower and it comes in handy with some recordings. The suspension is not as robust as the Shure M44.

I would like to try the Stanton at some point. I am also curious about the AT and Denon SP cartridges for sale in Japan.

Of course Expert Stylus Ortofon SPU would be nice to check out but a bit pricey to get started with.

Another way to go is to try more vintage -- such as the GE vr cartridges. I have not gone that route but some folks really like them.

Best, stephanie
 
Stainless steel needle with a Victor Exhibition sound box...oh, sorry...acoustic shellacs!
 
I'm currently building/creating a dedicated 78 mono rig.
Garrard Type-A rim drive, Heathkit WA-P2 preamp and W4-AM power amp (5881 or 6L6 types) and a single 50's Klipschorn.
Below is a photo of the Type-A with bakelite headshells, does anyome know if the aforementioned carts like the Stanton 500, SPU or Shure M78 fit these?
Thanks
WOT
 

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Hey WOT
I like your set up! I use a Garrard too and was thinking of having a second deck, like a 4HF, but space is the issue (too many records!) but if I had a bigger room I would definitely have a dedicated mono/78 set up, just like you're doing.

I am keen on tubes and Klipsches too... I read somewhere online that somehow there was a lot to be gained by playing mono records on purely mono set ups, presumably with 78s there might be less surface noise?

And by the way I am pretty sure you could adapt the Garrard headshell to take the Stanton, with a bit of fiddling, but why not go for a vintage mono cartridge, like a GE, I hear they are quite good?

Anyway, good luck with your system.


Inamelotone
 
I currently run a Grado 78C in a std headsell on the AT-Pl120 TT and it works quite nicely. Next up are a few more Styli sizes for some records that need them. The AT-PL120 is a nice table for 78s and teh ability to quickly switch headshells is very handy as you search for a stylus that fits the groove on that disk the best :)
 
I have a Shure M-78 and a GE VRII Mono cart that I use on a Mirocord and have had great results. I've yet to do a side by side comparison of a bridged mono vs straight mono cart. I had been using a Garrard A like yours but had been picking up some rumble so it's on the shelf for now. I think I am going to lean towards the GE. I have to try it out more. Sounds like FUN !! :banana:
 
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